The University of Strasbourg

Dr. Albert Schweitzer

Biography - Early Childhood

Albert Schweitzer was born on January 14th, 1875, at Kaysersberg in Upper Alsace. The second

son of Louis Schweitzer (the Lutheran pastor and teacher of the small Protestant congregation of

Kaysersberg, which was mainly Catholic), Albert was an extraordinarily gifted child who from

an early age developed his immense potentialities to their utmost limit. He descended from along paternal and maternal lines of teachers, pastors and musicians. He and his siblings had

been brought up in an atmosphere of simple piety, enjoying a happy, carefree youth. Albert’s

father began giving him music lessons aged five, and by seven he was playing hymn tunes on the harmonium with harmonies supplied himself. At eight, when his legs barely reached the pedals,

he began to play the organ and at nine, took the place of the organist for a service at Günsbach.

Until 1884 he went to the village school then the ‘Realschul’ at Munster before entering the

Gymnasium at Müllausen in Alsace where he boarded with the family of his grandfather’s half- brother. He appreciated their discipline and kindness all his life. When his organ teacher died in

1898, Schweitzer prepared, in his memory, a small booklet written in French. It was the first

product of his pen to print.

Student Years

At end of 1893 he became a student at Strasbourg University, taking Theology and Philosophy together.

During military training he continued his studies and

began independent research into the synoptic question and the problems of the life of Jesus. At this time he

was also studying music theory and became familiar

with Bach’s creations while still a young student.

Coincidentally, in 1898, while studying philosophy in

Alsace, he lived in the same house in which Goethe had

lived while he was a student at Strasbourg. Goethe’s

writings and philosophical out-look produced a profound effect on Albert Schweitzer. Later in 1898 he went to study philosophy at the

Sorbonne and to improve his organ playing under Widor, who, being deeply impressed by his

student, agreed to teach Schweitzer without fee, and a great and influential friendship was begun. Schweitzer apparently found the Sorbonne University rather distasteful and unsatisfactory

compared to the freshness of Strasbourg.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-D0116-0041-019,_Albert_Schweitzer.jpg

In 1899 he obtained a post as a Preacher at the Church of St. Nicholas in Strasbourg. “Thus, in the simplest way, did my life

pass during the years that were decisive for my creative work. I

worked much and hard, with unbroken concentration, but

without hurry. I did not go about much in the world, because I had neither time nor money for travelling.”

The problems of the life of Jesus had occupied him since the

first year at University and he soon formed plans to begin a history of the origin and early Christian development of the Last

Supper and Baptism. The Quest of the Historical Jesus

appeared in 1906. It was an attempt to construct a verifiable

biography of Jesus. It challenged both the secular view of Jesus as depicted by historical-critical methodology current at his time in certain academic circles, as

well as the traditional Christian view. The work found immediate

recognition in Oxford and Cambridge, England. He was invited to visit Oxford, but could not spare the time. He had begun work on a German

edition on Bach, and, later a French edition and by the age of thirty he

had written a definitive study of Johann Sebastian Bach. Thus began the prodigious output of this young revolutionary theologian, who was also a

profound, yet practical philosopher, a great organist and musicologist.

He had an innate interest in organs. While still a boy he got to know all about the inside of an

organ and as a young man, became disturbed by the modern organs of the time. Realising that the best organs were built between about 1850 and 1880, he worked out a set of International

Regulations for organ-building, calling for the production of carefully built instruments of fine

tune. In the course of thirty years he sacrificed much time and trouble in the interests of organs and organ-building. Friends said of him, “In Africa he saves old niggers, in Europe old organs.”

Change of Direction – “I resolve to become a jungle doctor.”

Then, suddenly, in October, 1905, aged thirty, Albert

Schweitzer gave up this uncommon multiplicity of

brilliant careers, resigned from his professoriate at the University of Strasbourg and decided to study medicine.

This decision came after reading a plea from the Paris

Mission Society for help in Equatorial Africa, where the

people were in desperate need of a medical service that was totally lacking. What he had been wanting “was an

absolutely personal and independent activity.” “I

wanted to be a doctor that I might work without having to talk.” For years he had been giving of himself in

words, but in this new commitment, “I’ll not be a talker

about the ‘Religion of Love’, but one who puts it into practice.”

This plan had actually been on his mind for a long time,

having been conceived in his student days. “It struck me as incomprehensible that I could be

allowed to lead such a happy life, while I saw so many people around me wrestling with care and suffering.” He wished to give something in return for his happiness, and serve humanity.

To family and friends it seemed an irrational plan, to go to Africa, not as a missionary, but as a

doctor, burdening himself, at his age, with a long period of laborious study. Yet, he was very determined to express the religion of love by putting it into practise.

Now began years of continuous struggle with fatigue. Teaching theology, preaching as well as

playing the organ made great demands on him while he studied. It was during the first months of his medical course that he also wrote the essay on Organ-building and the final chapter of the

Quest of the Historical Jesus.

Saint-Nicolas, Strasbourg

Albert Schweitzer as a young man

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_Jesushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_Jesus

Marriage - Africa - Lambaréné

While occupied with the dissertations for his medical degree, Albert was already making

reparations for his journey to Africa.

Then, on June 18th 1912, he married

Hélène Bresslau, the daughter of the

distinguished professor of history at

Strasbourg University. She had, already

before their marriage, been a valuable collaborator in the completion of

manuscripts and corrections of proofs, and

was a great help again with all the literary work which had to be got through before

they started for Africa.

Albert seemed to show some fore-vision by insisting they take with them 2,000 marks in gold instead of in notes.

He had reckoned on the possibility of war, and that, if war broke out, gold would retain its value

in every country in the world, whereas the fate of paper-money was uncertain.

The Schweitzers went to Lambaréné in 1913. The missionaries there gave them a very hearty welcome. Through lack of labourers they had been unable to erect

buildings in which Albert could begin his medical activity. So at

first he had to use, as his consulting-room, an old fowl-house close to their living quarters. Later he was able to move into a

corrugated-iron building down by the river.

From the very first few days, before even finding time to unpack the

drugs and instruments, he was

besieged by sick people. “At first I

was much hindered in my work by being unable to find natives who

could serve as interpreters and

orderlies.” Valiant help was given in the hospital by his wife, Hélène, who had been trained as a nurse. She also became the

anaesthetist for surgical operations. Schweitzer was constantly

“consumed with unceasing anxiety” about the condition of severe

cases on whom he had operated.

For keeping up his organ-playing he had the magnificent piano with pedal attachment, built

specially for the tropics, which the Paris Bach Society had presented to him.

Prisoners of War

When war broke out in Europe on Aug. 5th, 1914,

Albert and Hélène were made prisoners of war and forbidden to work in the Hospital. With

unexpected time to spare, Albert set to work on his

Philosophy of Civilization. He also began to think

about The Reverence of Life. By September 1915 Hélène was in ill-health and living at Cape Lopez.

In September, 1917, just after resuming work at

Lambaréné they were taken to Europe, to be placed in a camp for prisoners of war at Garaison

(Provençal for guérison, healing) where Schweitzer

was able to work again as a medical man. His preliminary sketches for The Philosophy of

Civilization had been left with an American

missionary working at Lambaréné.

http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?imgurl=http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/4048/PreviewComp/SuperStock_4048-6011.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/4048-6011&h=350&w=254&sz=45&tbnid=oUhScMaq3PLoYM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=65&zoom=1&usg=__xqvQE2UgWj7tNmd7gwrOykjpcQM=&docid=-OK_lgEcyciOoM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8Dc0UKT1D6mRiQf894DwDQ&sqi=2&ved=0CFUQ9QEwAg&dur=4026

At Garaison Albert found there were men with all manner of specialized knowledge and he made liberal use of this

unique opportunity for learning. He learned about

banking, architecture, factory building and equipment,

cereal growing, furnace building, and many other things he may never have acquired elsewhere.

Finally they were sent to a camp at Saint-Rémy-de-

Provence, which was intended for Alsatians only and here they met many people they knew and Albert became

camp doctor again. But by now, both he and his wife

were far from well themselves. They were released as

exchange prisoners in July 1918 and were greatly sadden to see the ravages of war everywhere in the once-beautiful

countryside. They made sure to send provisions to their

starving friends in Germany. A year later,

on his birthday, Albert

and Hélène’s daughter Rhena was born,

January 14th, 1919.

In 1920 Albert set to work at writing down recollections of

Africa under the title of On the Edge of the Primeval Forest. They moved to Günsbach later that year and Albert spent

much time travelling, giving lectures in other countries to raise

money for the Hospital at Lambaréné and also funds for continuing the work. As well, he gave organ recitals to raise

money to support his family while in Africa.

He noted that, when he first went to Africa he prepared to make three sacrifices: to abandon the organ, to renounce the

academic teaching activities, and to lose his financial independence, relying for the rest of his

life on the help of friends. He had begun to make these sacrifices (at great personal cost) but he

was spared the threefold sacrifice as he became esteemed as an artist on the organ, found compensation in opportunities of lecturing in universities in many countries, and was able to win

financial independence by means of organ and pen.

The Second Period in Africa. 1924-1927

Hélène could not accompany her husband this time because of a

breakdown in her health. Instead, a young Oxford student went as a

helper. All that still remained of the Hospital was a small building of corrugated iron, and the hardwood skeleton of one of the big bamboo

huts. All the other buildings had decayed and collapsed. Albert’s life

during those months was lived as a doctor in the mornings and as a master-builder in the afternoons. There was a dysentery epidemic and a

famine, and too many patients now for the small hospital so a new and

larger one had to be built.

Schweitzer had to become an overseer too, of his labourers who cut

down the vegetation on the chosen site and worked on the buildings.

As soon as the building site had been cleared, he began making land

near it ready for cultivation for fruit trees and food crops to supply the hospital during periods of famine. When feeling he was losing valuable time for intellectual labour, dealing with the

manifold everyday duties before him, he would comfort himself with thoughts of Goethe, who as

we know, “with mighty plans of intellectual activity in his head,” would set about dealing with his mundane duties in a practical way. “And so this union of homely employment with practical

activity comforted me concerning my own existence. For Goethe, a giant among intellectuals,

there was no work which he held to be beneath his dignity and he could not think of any

intellectual work without practical work side by side with it.”

1917: Albert Schweitzer as a prisoner of war

in France, at the internment camp at

Garaison in the Pyrenees

Albert Schweitzer and daughter Rhena

Schweitzer’s wife, Hélène

For many years, Schweitzer fulfilled his task on the banks of the Ogooué River, Gabon,

amid incredible hardships, strengthened and

supported in the early years by his brave and

gentle wife. He suffered from every form of disease again and again from being broken

down in health.

From 1939-48 he stayed in Lamaréné, unable to go back to Europe because of the war.

Three years after the end of World War II, in

1948, he returned for the first time to Europe

and kept travelling back and forth (and once to the USA) as long as he was able. During his

return visits to his home village of Gunsbach,

Schweitzer continued to make use of the family house, which after his death became an Archive and Museum to his life and work.

Awards

Albert Schweitzer was the first person

nominated for the Goethe Prize (1927). But,

unable to leave Africa at the time, he was

awarded it in 1928. In 1952 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his philosophy of

Reverence for Life. His The Problem of Peace

lecture is considered one of the best speeches ever given. In 1955 he received the OM

(Order of Merit) – Honorary Member under

French citizenship. From 1952 until his death he worked against nuclear tests and nuclear

weapons with Albert Einstein, Otto Hahn and

Bertrand Russell. In 1957 and 1958 he

broadcast four speeches over Radio Oslo which were published in Peace or Atomic

War. In 1957, Schweitzer was one of the

founders of The Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy. On 23 April 1957, Dr.

Schweitzer made his "Declaration of

Conscience" speech. It was broadcast to the

world over Radio Oslo, pleading for the abolition of nuclear weapons. He ended his

speech, saying: "The end of further experiments with atom bombs would be like the early

sunrays of hope which suffering humanity is longing for."

Albert Schweitzer, will never belong to any

one nation. His whole life and all of his work

are a message addressed to all men regardless of nationality or race. “I always held firmly

to the thought that each one of us can do a

little to bring some portion of it (the misery in

the world) to an end... Because I have confidence in the power of truth and of the

spirit, I believe in the future of mankind.”

He died on 4 September 1965, several months after his 90

th birthday, at his beloved

hospital in Lambaréné, Gabon. His grave, on

the banks of the Ogooué River, is marked by

a simple wooden cross he made himself.

Schweitzer with his wife, Hélène, and their dog, Choo Choo

Albert Schweitzer working on the hospital grounds

Schweitzer Tomb at Lambaréné

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goethe_Prizehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverence_for_Lifehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_testshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weaponhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weaponhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einsteinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Hahnhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertrand_Russellhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Actionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_Actionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambar%C3%A9n%C3%A9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogoou%C3%A9_River

Where I place Albert Schweitzer upon the Path

In my view, Dr Albert Schweitzer was an Initiate. I feel he must have already taken the third initiation (or did so

in this particular life) as he was a man of great ability,

who was totally involved with world service work. His selfless work as a missionary doctor in Africa is

testimony to this, as well as the tireless, ceaseless work

he did throughout Europe in the fields of music, theosophy, philosophy, writing and teaching.

Initially I had the opinion that he was rather ‘super-human’, managing to achieve so much more than ordinary men with the very same 24 hours allotted us all. An explanation for this was

found in IHS (p.100) where there was a section describing the after effects of initiation:

“Corroboration of these occurrences, and proof of the accuracy of the transmitted knowledge will demonstrate as follows;- In and through the etheric centres. These centres will be greatly

stimulated and will, through their increased inherent energy, enable the initiate to accomplish

more in the path of service than he ever before dreamed possible. His dreams and ideas become, not possibilities, but demonstrating facts in manifestation.”

This was so true of Schweitzer with his prodigious outpouring from a brain that had “become

ever more rapidly an acute transmitter of the inner impulses.” He was obviously aware “of that

inner recollection or ‘occult memory,’ which concerns the work of Hierarchy and primarily his share in the general plan. He was able to manifest his dreams and ideals but not without

enormous personal sacrifice.”

Nobel Prize-winning humanitarian Dr. Albert

Schweitzer with his daughter Rhena Schweitzer Miller.

Rhena carried on her father’s medical missionary

work in Lambaréné. The hospital is used annually

by some 50000 people. The last generation of hospital buildings which Dr. Schweitzer himself

built are now being restored as a visitor's centre,

guest accommodation, a small museum and an educational centre.

Albert Schweitzer in 1955

OM (Order of Merit) –

Honorary Member under

French citizenship 25th

February, 1955

Albert Schweitzer received the

Nobel Peace Prize in 1952

Map showing Gabon and Lambaréné, Africa.

The Hospital at Lambaréné

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1933_Nobel_Peace_Prize_awarded_to_Norman_Angell.JPG

A Rayology Profile of Albert Schweitzer

Soul ray – Ray 2, the ray of Love Wisdom

I think that Albert Schweitzer had a 2nd

Ray Soul. It is the Ray of Love, Wisdom, Inclusiveness and Magnetism, all of which, without exception, applied to him. He epitomised loving

compassion and wisdom. He always expressed selfless love,

almost driven in his desire to care for all life. He was awarded

the Nobel Peace Prize for his philosophy of Reverence for Life. For much of his life he was as a light shining in the darkness of

Africa. He had an intuitive understanding of people and life.

When in Africa, he never tired to convert the native peoples to Christianity and kept his promise never to preach while over

there. He knew that they would benefit more from his example

of living understanding and practical help as he attended to their

everyday welfare. He realised that “only a person who recognises a duty undertaken with sober enthusiasm, is capable

of becoming a spiritual

adventurer such as the world needs. There are no heroes of action; only heroes of renunciation and suffering. Of such

there are plenty. But few of them are known, and even these

not to the crowd, but to a few.”

His empathy and deep understanding gave illumination and

help to many. He was inclusive of all life in his

understanding and wrote beautifully and sensitively about his

childhood memories and the natural world around him as he

was growing up. His greatest

sense of the sacred was Divine Love and to express that

overwhelming energy, he

became a surgeon in order that he may be able to serve. He

followed his Soul purpose.

Personality ray – Ray 1, the ray of Will, Power and Purpose

His strong personality was most likely Ray 1 with advanced Ray 2 soul infused energies strongly

colouring his personality with softening, lovingly-inclusive impressions. “As a young man all the while, at the University, I could not help thinking continuously of others who were denied

the happiness I experienced, by their material circumstances or their health. I wished to give

something in return for this happiness, and serve humanity.” His humanitarian soul was able to

concretise these wishes admirably through his personality.

He had strength of will and courage to stick to his very strong convictions. He was one-pointed

and decisive. He achieved much in his long, full life through sheer persistence and concentration

of the will. An example of this is seen in his long years of studies, which were extended when he decided to become a doctor even though it put a great strain on him to do so. He would work

through the night at times if need be, which showed great mental

endurance and a very good constitution. He was never discouraged

when faced with subjects that he initially found very difficult; he merely worked harder to extend himself. This ability to drive through

all obstacles with assurance and assertiveness is very much Ray 1.

He was a fighter for peace with a tremendous sense of justice, and like Goethe, he “avoided realising any design at the cost of right.” With

his one-pointed simplicity, lying, hypocrisy and intrigue were as far

from him as vanity, jealousy and ingratitude. He promoted self-reliance and self discipline, even asking of the natives that they ‘pay’

for their hospital visits as best as they could.

Schweitzer with an affectionate

companion at his desk in Africa

Albert Schweitzer exhibited so much of

the loving 2nd

Ray power to salvage and

redeem

Johann Wolfgang von

Goethe at age 79

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverence_for_Life

Schweitzer preferred a life of freedom of action that he conceived and being very self-disciplined and independent, he was able to ‘go it alone’, with dynamic power and fortitude in

the African jungle. With a pioneering, fearlessness and driven personality, Schweitzer was able

to initiate, lead, direct and responsibly govern the hospital complex at Lambaréné. He

accomplished great results as he, had the stamina to withstand the hardship, deprivation and personal sacrifice needed to be a ‘warrior’, bringing it from a state of being totally derelict in the

jungle to being a major centre of healing in Africa. Here, he was very well respected and his

work in Africa has inspired many people over the decades.

Mental ray – Ray 3, the ray if Active Creative Intelligence and Adaptability

I suggest that Albert Schweitzer’s mental ray was Ray 3. From the breadth of his writings (and life work) we can see

that his agile mind was impressive, intuitive and incessantly

active. He wrote freely from many sources, choosing a wide range of diverse subjects, all of which he thoroughly

researched until he had a detailed understanding of them.

With his versatile, clear intellect, Schweitzer had the ability

for eclectic, abstract thinking and philosophical theorising. He gained notoriety as the unorthodox author of The Quest

of the Historical Jesus (1910) which shocked both liberal

and conservative Protestants. Its concept of a ‘Religion of Love’ laid the foundation for his medical missionary work.

As a boy he was usually the top boy in

essay writing at school, although he admitted to being better at oral examination than written papers. “In the

many verbal duels which I had to fight, as a weary opponent, with people

who passed for Christians, it moved me strangely to see them so far from

perceiving that the effort to serve the love preached by Jesus may steer a man into a new course of life, although they read in the New Testament that

it can do so, and found it there quite in order.” “I held the venture (to work

in Africa) to be justified, because I had considered it for a long time and from every point of view, and credited myself with the possession of

health, sound nerves, energy, practical commonsense, toughness, prudence, very few wants, and

everything else that might be found necessary by anyone

wandering along the path of the idea. I believed myself further, to wear the protective armour of a temperament quite capable of

enduring an eventual failure of my plan.”

Some of Schweitzer’s famous books are Reverence of Life, The Philosophy of Civilisations, Christianity and the Religions of the

World, Indian Thought and Its Development, The Kingdom of God

and Primitive Christianity, The Mysticism of Paul the Apostle, The Problem of the Lord’s Supper, and The Quest of the Historical

Jesus. He also wrote Peace or Atomic War many essays, papers,

and letters and even a book for children The Story of My

Pelican.

In fact, Albert Schweitzer’s written works covered both

philosophical and practical matters. For example, his

youthful interest in organs and his concern at their deteriorating sound quality, led him to write a carefully

detailed, clear, precise and practical publication on how to

build instruments of fine tune and quality -the. International Regulations for organ-building. He said,

"To hear a pure-tuned organ would fulfil a life-long dream

of mine."

Albert Schweitzer came to Norway in 1954 to receive the Nobel peace prize. He

was worn-out by illness, and cancelled all planned concerts and events. Besides

the prize ceremony, the only thing he had the energy to, was to try Eivind

Groven's pure-tuned pipe organ, then placed in the Trinity church in Oslo.

Schweitzer as a boy

Albert Schweitzer working at his desk,in

more refined conditions in Europe

One of Schweitzer’s many

publications

http://www.herenow4u.net/fileadmin/v3media/pics/Rare_Articles/Albert_Schweitzer/Albert_Schweitzer_002.jpg

Emotional Ray – Ray 6, the ray of Devotion, Intensity and Abstract Idealism

Although Albert Schweitzer displayed a natural kindliness, sensitivity,

heartfelt love and tenderness, characteristics more of a Ray 2 emotional

body, I give him a sixth ray astral. He had a love of theology, and an intense ability to focus on the ideal with fiery devotion, single-minded

persistence and a passionate commitment to the process. With this

note of love-wisdom and devotion, we see he could easily inspire

others and be receptive to soul guidance.

Schweitzer was spiritually intelligent and mentally focused. Because

we do not lose our astral sensitivity when remaining mentally focused,

he experienced overwhelming emotional suffering from seeing all the pain and cruelty in the world. His possible initiate status gave him the

ability for unconditional love, emotional intensity and the one-pointed

emotional drive to seek the ideal.

There is also quite sound

evidence to suggest a 4th ray

emotional body with his deep sense of relationship of all

things. He poured forth selflessly and unceasingly for the harmonising good of humanity, with the purest of motives,

courage and self-control. As seen above, he had both

mental and emotional balance. With these and his natural intuitive abilities, he was able to cope with crises that life

presented, and grow through the constant struggle. He did

not run away from stress, but rather he took on more responsibility. His many years in Africa and in internment

camps, tested his courage and resolve as did the constant

need to earn enough money to support his altruistic missionary medical work and his family.

His strong affections for his wife Heléné must have been sorely tested whenever parted from her. Heléné, whose health had suffered from the African climate, and the long years of internment,

had died in 1957.

Physical ray – Ray 3, the Ray of Active Creative Intelligence and Adaptability

Albert Schweitzer was blessed with a very good third ray physical body. Although a vegetarian,

his physique was both strong and powerful. He was capable of great physical endurance. While working in Africa all those years and during the years of internment, Albert Schweitzer suffered

great physical hardships and ill-health. Also, intensive years of medical studies coupled with

other personal obligations led to immense fatigue. Yet he endured and won out.

Always industrious, Albert Schweitzer’s

natural dexterity and co-ordination gave him

the gifts needed to be a great surgeon and

musician. He not only played, but had the practical ability, good ear, and ease of

physical plane manipulation to build organs.

He needed this strong, dependable third ray physical body and he made use of his

physical stamina to reach his humanitarian

goals after responding to an article asking for people “on whom the Master’s eyes

already rested” to go and offer help at a

mission in Equatorial Africa. The

conclusion ran: “Men and women who can reply promptly to the Master’s call, ‘Lord, I

am coming,’ those are the people whom the

Church needs.” As Schweitzer was aligned with his soul, he responded. Skilful use of time, tempered with patience and acceptance, allowed him to accomplish much throughout his long

life.

Schweitzer with his pet pelican

Lao Tzu’s, Goethe’s and

Spinoza’s philosophies

resonated with Schweitzer

as they were more nature

orientated and Stoic than

the ‘modern’ ones

Albert Schweitzer directs his staff as a shipment of CARE

blankets, shirts and clothing arrive at his African Hospital, 1953

4. Psycho-Spiritual Transformational work to be done, based on

Astrology

Astrological Birth Chart for Albert Schweitzer

Libra Rising Capricorn Sun Aires Moon

The Moon Sign a. The prison pattern

With his Moon in the sign of Aires in the seventh house, Albert Schweitzer’s ‘prison pattern’

perhaps had the potential to be one of struggle and

conflict within relationships and all of life in the material world generally. In his autobiography he

commented that, “I had to fight hard against my

hot temper. I remember many events of my

childhood which still humiliate me and keep me watchful in this struggle.” His Ray 6 astral may

have emphasised this as well. Being a very

sensitive child, he could easily have experienced a life of emotional imbalance and struggle without

the firm, loving nurturing of a humble but close,

extended family. Also, he could well have

remained living the safe generational family pattern of teaching, preaching and playing the organ for the

rest of his life.

b. How the Prison Pattern limited Albert Schweitzer’s life

Fortunately, the ‘prison pattern’ did not really limit Albert Schweitzer as he was an advanced,

soul-aligned individual who had broken through most of the obstacles that this pattern presents. The following shows how he overcame inbuilt patterning by learning from a mistake. He had an

instinct for sacrifice for others and mentioned once regretting he had had a feeling of obligation,

loyalty and duty to a friend, when he worked very hard to complete a degree rather than taking an opportunity to travel longer before settling down. “That I lost this opportunity through a

misplaced consideration for others, has been a matter of regret to me ever since.”

c. The psychological transformational work required to be free of the pattern.

Being an advanced, co-operative, sharing, man, Albert Schweitzer was not particularly handicapped by any obvious patterned obstacles

which needed breaking. His personality and soul were unified. His

sound, capable, purified body was responsive to his soul’s Light. He heeded his soul’s ‘call’ of an ‘opportunity to begin anew’, when he

suddenly changed his life’s direction and began medical studies to

become a doctor in Africa. Always determined to complete, with enthusiasm whatever he set out to accomplish, Schweitzer was a real

pioneer and spiritual warrior. He indirectly helped transform the

consciousness of his day by the creative power and directness of his

mental energy. He always followed his impulses and ideas, writing and working for the good of others throughout his life, altruistically, and not for personal gain or aggrandisement.

d. Did Albert Schweitzer do this work?

Because Albert Schweitzer was possibly and initiate of the 3rd

degree, the moon sign pattern was

related more to his service work, rather than to any personal failings. He participated in the

greater whole. His powerful mind, his balanced emotions and purified body provided the world with a grounded server of distinction in many fields, not

only as a missionary surgeon for which he is so famous. He appeared to love

all aspects of his life’s works – in Africa as a pioneer doctor, in Europe as a lecturer, writer and musician. Schweitzer was always a man of individual

action, who was blessed with the beautiful, learned, serene and capable

Heléné as his soul mate, life-companion and wife. Between them they

expressed illumined living, love and goodwill to the world.

A rare family portrait, taken in 1892, of 17-year-

old Albert, his parents, three sisters, brother, and

dog, signed by Schweitzer who has identified

everyone in the photograph.

Heléné Bresslau -

Schweitzer

Dr. Schweitzer in Africa

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3. The Sun Sign

a. Personality Traits coming from the Personality Ray

With his strong, practical, Ray 1 personality, Albert Schweitzer expressed powerful qualities of

steadfastness, fortitude, responsibility, skilful use of time and wonderful resourcefulness when it

came to opportunity, as seen when taking the opportunity to learn varied new skills from co-internees at the camps. He had the fearless courage and strength of will to conscientiously

accomplish ambitious projects, be they written works or of a more manual nature. He was

purposeful, with a commonsense presence of integrity, preferring freedom from any authority

other than his own. Having a good understanding of values, Schweitzer was carefully prudent with his resources, as he knew how hard it was to earn the needed money to support his family

and many projects.

b. Personality Traits coming from the Sun Sign

Albert Schweitzer’s Sun was Capricorn in the fourth house,

the house of home and family. He had deep love of his family and home and his early life followed a conservative,

traditional pattern clearly similar to that of his parents; study,

teaching, religion and music. Albert’s family had unconsciously reinforced the Capricornian qualities already in

him – an inherent sense of duty, self-discipline and

responsibility. Also, as a Capricornian, Albert displayed the

true vocation to sacrifice the self for the benefit of all other sentient beings. He blended his considerable powers towards

attaining his goals, showing himself to be a caring,

conscientious, self-disciplined, hard-working, spiritually intelligent disciple who had overcome illusions and was

without the sins of pride, separativeness and cruelty.

c. The Personality and Soul Purpose

I believe that Albert Schweitzer was following his Soul-Purpose. His balanced personality

definitely seemed to be soul illumined or ‘solarised’, because it appeared to be an obedient, self-directed extension of his soul. As a powerful,

integrated human being he was always

courageously determined to journey to his goal with integrity, uniqueness, and compassion. He

was a natural leader and diplomat who had

great generosity of spirit and such a love for all

Life that it drove him to become a world renowned example of one who worked for the

upliftment of humanity. In his effort to

manifest his part in the Plan, he expressed the key words for a Capricornian: “Lost in light

supernal, yet on that light I turn my back.”

These words also apply to Schweitzer: In

spiritual being I stand upon the way. It is the way of men. I am. I neither think nor dream,

but work!

4. Soul Purpose

a. Soul Purpose from the Soul Ray

Second ray soul purpose, its goals and vocation are all epitomised in Albert Schweitzer. He was

boundlessly inclusive, as seen in his book Reverence of Life. His life expressed the enfolding, healing, soft love energy that made him a famous doctor, surgeon, teacher, scholar and musician.

His youth until forty was spent in “earnest study and the attainment of not only merely

intellectual knowledge but a spiritual rule for living, thus bringing in intuition and true wisdom.”

Albert Schweitzer's house at

Günsbach, now a museum and archive

Lambaréné is to be found on the banks of the Ogooué River whose watershed occupies most of Gabon, West Africa

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The soul purpose of Ray 2 is LOVE. Albert Schweitzer’s life was a radiant expression of love as he humbly devoted his life and all he had, to helping humanity. “Within his light we walk.”

b. Soul Purpose from the Ascendant Sign

The Libran soul directives are: perfect love, self direction, adjustment and experimentation

(there would have been abundant opportunity for that in Africa!). Albert Schweitzer’s Libran

Ascendant intended that he attain true balance, harmony and diplomacy. ‘Choice’ was the

paramount energy throughout his life and is most conspicuous when, as a young man with the whole world at his feet, he suddenly took the resolve to throw away everything he had won, and

become a humble physician among primitive tribes in Africa. The choice had been, “Shall I be

great, or shall I selflessly serve.”

“His ‘reverence for Life’ can be seen as an extension of the Libran ‘right human relations’ focus

-- not only regarding other humans, but also all of life, a very universal reverence; he definitely

had extreme resonance with the divinity of all of Life. He sought to change the world and save every living thing, the sign of a World Saviour. There are many examples of how his Ray 2 soul

utilized his Libran ascendant to unite, balance, and harmonize -- doctoring, healing, to alleviate

pain for all beings.”

As a young man, it would appear that Schweitzer expressed perfected qualities and talents learnt in recent lives – the scholar, philosopher and musician. But later on, in this life, he presented a

different expression, becoming the humanitarian in Africa, the world’s most stressful, difficult

and deprived environment. Such a remarkably sudden, dramatic change may be indicative of soul alignment to Purpose.

5. Summary

Dr. Albert Schweitzer was one of the greatest spiritual and intellectual forces of our day. He

earned doctorates in philosophy, theology and medicine, specialising in tropical medicine and surgery. One of Europe’s finest organists, Schweitzer initially came into international fame with

The Quest of the Historical Jesus in 1910, and later, as a famous doctor-surgeon in Africa.

He displayed qualities and capabilities of an initiate. He was truly ethical, and showed

generosity of spirit, compassion, integrity and

warmth. Being powerfully purposeful, he was in tune with the Plan, continuously speaking, writing

or working to improve conditions for others.

Graciously diplomatic, Schweitzer empowered

others by his independent, self-reliant, practical approach to life, displaying a continuity of

consciousness that enabled him to consciously

utilise time as a positive factor in his life.

Giving up a life of ease, popularity and culture in

Europe, he chose to fulfil his life work and serve,

as a ‘Christian, in the heart of darkness and human

suffering’ in Africa. With a deep longing for peace and justice in the world, he also spoke up strongly

against atomic warfare. To him all life was sacred

and from childhood, he displayed an instinct of sacrifice for others. Yet, with all his natural

kindliness, he, “used to exact from my native

patients some tangible evidence of their gratitude for the help they had received.”

Schweitzer was true to himself and to others. His aspiration was inspired by love, and his life

was one of action. He stated, “That everyone shall exert himself in that state of life in which he

is placed, to practise true harmony towards his fellow men, on that depends the future of

mankind.” He truly was a man “on whom the Master’s eyes already rested.”

Dr. Albert Schweitzer in Lambaréné, West Africa

Albert Schweitzer’s closing words

from “MY LIFE & THOUGHT An Autobiography”

“In my own life anxiety, trouble, and sorrow have been allotted too at times in such abundant measure that had

my nerves not been so strong, I must have broken down

under the weight. Heavy is the burden of fatigue and responsibility which has lain upon me without break for

years. I have not much of my life for myself, not even

the hours I should like to devote to my wife and child.

But I have had blessings too; that I am allowed to work in the service of mercy; that my work has been

successful; that I receive from other people affection

and kindness in abundance; that I have loyal helpers who identify themselves with my activity; that I enjoy a

health which allows me to undertake most exhausting

work; that I have a well-balanced temperament which

varies but little, and an energy which exerts itself with calmness and deliberation; and, finally, that I can

recognise as such whatever happiness falls to my lot, accepting it also as a thing for which some

thank-offering is due from me.

I feel deeply that I can work as a free man at a time when an oppressive lack of freedom is the

lot of so many, as also that though my immediate work is material, yet I have at the same time

opportunities of occupying myself in the sphere of the spiritual and intellectual.

That the circumstances of my life provide in such varied ways favourable conditions for my

work, I accept as something of which I would fain prove myself worthy.

How much of the work which I have planned and have in mind shall I be able to complete?

My hair is beginning to turn. My body is beginning to show traces of the exertions I have demanded of it, and the passage of years.

I look back with thankfulness to the time when without needing to husband my strength, I could

get through an uninterrupted course of bodily and mental work. With calmness and humility I look forward to the future, so that I may not be unprepared for renunciation if it be required of

me. Whether we be workers or sufferers, it is assuredly our duty to conserve our powers, as

being men who have won their way through to the peace which passeth all understanding.”

LAMBARÉNÉ

March 7th, 1931

References:

MY LIFE & THOUGHT An Autobiography by Albert Schweitzer (Translated by C.T. Campion)

GOETHE by Albert Schweitzer

Initiation Human and Solar by Alice A. Bailey

Birth Chart supplied by Lawson

The Basics of Esoteric Astrology edited by Jan Lawson

Ray Primer edited by Jan Lawson

Morya Study Material

Internet - Google/Wikipedia